Sometimes I think I’ve narrowed
My uses down to one:
Serving as the butt of
Someone else’s fun.
But then I bounce, for man has
Phases like the moon
So each of us can take his
Turn at being goon.
by Ray Romine Thursday, October 19, 1950
Category: Poems
Ray Romine Poems
Resigned
Can there be sense in all this rush?
And purpose in the flurry?
Is life so short our lack of time
Must be made up by hurry?
Well, I’ll sit back contentedly*
And enjoy the time that’s left to me!
*unless Flo reads this…
by Ray Romine Wednesday, September 10, 1947
Reservation
Me gamble? Never, sir! And yet,
You say this is a sure-fire bet?
I cannot lose? Then my perception
Could well make this the rare exception!
by Ray Romine Saturday, December 13, 1952
Renewal
When Junior gets a brand-new toy,
His continued interest in it
I should roughly estimate
At a quarter of a minute.
How his love for it will grow
When brother wants to use it, though!
by Ray Romine Wednesday, March 22, 1950
Remnant
Financially, I guess, you might
Describe me as “bereft.”
I have a job, which is all right;
I live on what is left.
by Ray Romine Friday, August 24, 1951
Relax You Gotta
When you stop work to sit and sigh,
I wonder what is causing
Such shiftlessness. But when it’s I,
I pass it off as pausing.
by Ray Romine Monday, August 28, 1950
Relatives
Trees stand tall and straight and proud
Lacking voice to tell aloud
How, back to the primal clod,
They see man aligned with God.
More than other life, trees can
Excuse, perhaps, the flaws in man.
by Ray Romine Thursday, September 26, 1946
Regret
From where I sat, I thought I saw your face,
And that you caught my glance and turned your head;
Yes, quite as though you’d rather look, instead,
At any other member of the race
Than see my countenance. How out of place
I felt–how lost–how filled with awe and dread.
To think I failed you when I should have led
Your steps through happiness a breathless space.
My turn was gone–too late I saw my fault;
Too late my errors slapped me wide awake,
And mirrored me for what I seem to be.
Remorse no longer helps your dear sweet sake;
Reproach I feel can never reach the vault
To touch your form and bring you back to me.
by Ray Romine Friday, December 3, 1943
Reflections On Winter
Cold weather’s here now, there’e no doubt ahout it,
Winter is nice, but I COULD do without it!
Old King Winter’s had his fling–
Now why can’t he make way for spring?
by Ray Romine Wednesday, February 21, 1934
Reflections On A Brand-new Set
I think the neighbor’s radio
A super one, as such things go;
I’m sure the tonal quality
Is excellent as it can be.
I even like its walnut finish,
But when I sleep–the whole thing’s dinnish.
It obeys your slightest wishes,
Up to washinng dirty dishes;
And though it has but little static,
What it has is automatic.
When it entertains a crowd,
It may not play good, but it does play loud.
What made it cost (and it was higher)
Was its better amplifier.
It has, I think, a foreign band;
And you don’t tune this set by hand.
It has twelve tubes and electric eyes.
There’s just one thing I criticize:
It lacks a button (catch that tear)
To turn it off from over here!
by Ray Romine Saturday, October 12, 1946